use different utensils, plates and chopping boards for raw and cooked food

Using shopping bags safely

make sure you take enough shopping bags to pack raw and ready-to-eat food separately

take extra bags to pack cleaning products and other household items separately from food

label or colour code your bags to show what you intend to use them for

check your bags for spillages after every use. If there has been visible spillage, soiling or damage, plastic bags for life should ideally be used for another purpose (where no safety risk will occur) or replaced

consider using cotton/fabric bags for life as they can be put in the washing machine and cleaned

FSA Explains

Cross-contamination is what happens when bacteria or other microorganisms are unintentionally transferred from one object to another. The most common example is the transfer of bacteria between raw and cooked food.

This is thought to be the cause of most foodborne infections. For example, when you’re preparing raw chicken, bacteria can spread to your chopping board, knife and hands and could cause food poisoning.

Cross-contamination can also happen when bacteria is transferred in ways that are harder to see. For example, via reusable shopping bags, or in the drips and splashes produced when meat is washed which can contaminate other surfaces.